Checkpoint results in DWI arrests

A total of 429 police contacts were made during a DWI checkpoint on June 8 at the intersection of Highways 37 and HH south of Purdy.

The effort was a cooperative enforcement effort involving the Barry County Sheriff's Office, the Southwest Missouri DWI Task Force and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).

According to Sgt. Steve Jabben with the Barry County Sheriff's Office, officers made three driving while intoxicated arrests, one felony drug arrest and two arrests for driving while under the influence of drugs.

"This was a very good checkpoint for our county," said Jabben. "We had a lot of positive feedback from people passing through and got impaired drivers off the road."

Earlier in the day on June 8, county officers conducted a driver's license checkpoint on Farm Road 1214 south of Jenkins. That effort resulted in one DWI arrest and two individuals arrested on warrants.

"These checkpoints are a great tool for us to use to get intoxicated drivers off our roads in Barry County," said Barry County Sheriff Mick Epperly.

The checkpoints are made possible through the Missouri Department of Transportations's State and Community Highway Safety grant program.